North side crud

[rustythread]

My one-story house has vinyl siding. The siding on the north end is showing a tan/grey growth of crud, I suspect from not being exposed to direct sunlight. I'd like to take a shot at it before giving up and hiring it done.

Can anybody recommend an effective, but not crushingly expensive. cleanser to brush, mop, or spray on?

 

[olfart]

Tri Sodium Phosphate (TSP) might be a good place to start. Available at your hardware/paint store.

 

[2500]

Quickest and easiest way would be a pressure washer.

 

[fiasconva]

Whatever you decide to use, make sure it's safe for your vinyl siding.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

I've have good results with Clorox House Wash. As you might imagine it's bleach based but nowhere near the strength of the stuff used for laundry. Long handled scrub brush, garden hose for rinsing and some clothes you don't mind bleaching a little and your in business.

 

[Bekeart]

Another vote for

Tri Sodium Phosphate - AKA the OLD Spic and Span

Applied with a big wide brush - wait - hose off.

Bekeart

 

[Old&Retired]

Wet & Forget Outdoor. Wife uses it and swears by it.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wet-and...h-Rapid-Application-Hose-End-807048/328640578

 

[Daniel R.]

Real TSP “etches”. It is a good cleaner for pre-painting prep for that very reason as the etching allows for a better bond with your topcoat. That etching action will also cut some of the sheen on your siding. Not too noticeable until you start cleaning with TSP on a regular basis.

Dawn Platinum, a poly bristle brush and a hose are my go to cleaners for around the home. Oxygenated bleach (Oxi Clean) is another product I’ll use on occasion (e.g.- cleaning a wooden deck prior to sealing). After 20+ years of repairing homeowners’ quick fixes, those are the tools I use on my own home.

 

[jeffrefrig]

"North Side Crud" describes a lot of derelicts over on the North Side section of Pittsburgh!

 

[Rule3]

My one-story house has vinyl siding. The siding on the north end is showing a tan/grey growth of crud, I suspect from not being exposed to direct sunlight. I'd like to take a shot at it before giving up and hiring it done.

Can anybody recommend an effective, but not crushingly expensive. cleanser to brush, mop, or spray on?

Just go to Home Depot or whatever store and get one of the hose end sprayer cleaners, There are lots of them, just check if OK for Vinyl

https://www.besthomegear.com/best-vinyl-siding-cleaner/

 

[MelvinWalker]

$4 bleach at 50/50 with hot water...$15 pump up sprayer and spray it on....Let it sit for 15 minutes and not dry...Hose it off.

I currently have vinyl and the wife and I do it every spring. I have used it on brick with the same results.

Wear an old shirt and pants and some eye protection in case the win shifts.

 

[Greyman50]

Yes, 50% bleach and 50% water sprayed on with pump up sprayer from bottom to top and let sit few minutes. You will see crud dissolving, wait couple more minutes then rinse very well with garden hose with spray nozzle.

 

[Timothy2700]

All of the above. Pressure washer if you have one. If you don’t then the spray solution and scrub N rinse. It’ll go away until next year.

 

[wood714]

The front of my shed faces north and doesn't get sun. It turned almost black. I tried every cleaner I could think of, and Magic Erasers, nothing would touch it. Friend owned a power washing business and told me to mix 50/50 bleach and water. Sprayed it on and rinsed it off, looks new. I used it on a outdoor wood bench, and my side of my neighbors old wood privacy fence...same results.

My moms Florida place has vinyl siding, and she'd get a greenish white covering on one side. Used the bleach and water, but I did have to use a broom to scrub a couple spots.

I use to power wash my driveway every year. Now once a year I buy 2 gallons of pool chlorine, and mix it 50/50 with water. Spray it on a hot sunny day and let it soak in. I've not power washed my drive in about 5 years, and it looks great.

 

[JimW]

Jomax house cleaner and mildew killer. Follow directions and it works great. Never harmed my stained clapboard siding.

 

[BC38]

Quickest and easiest way would be a pressure washer.

Ditto. Buying a cheap pressure washer to blast the crud off is going to be the most economical and least labor-intensive solution IMO.
If you are certain you'll NEVER have another use for a pressure washer, you MIGHT save a few bucks by renting one - rather than buying your own.
JMO and YMMV

 

[MRPMRP]

There are probably more expedient solutions, but Simple Green would almost certainly accomplish the task without harming the siding. If you can find it in gallon refills it can be fairly reasonably priced. Maybe apply with a pump sprayer, let it sit a few minutes, and the blast with a pressure washer?

 

[Walkin Horse]

I guess everyone probably already knows to wash out whatever you spray the bleach with. The bleach will corrode whatever you use. I buy the quart spray bottles at Lowe’s that are specifically for bleach and they only last a year or so.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Homemade mix............Vinegar - Dawn dish detergent- water..............Cheap but works.

 

[fiasconva]

Mike, what is the mixture ratio of vinegar, dawn, and, I assume, water?

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Mike, what is the mixture ratio of vinegar, dawn, and, I assume, water?

Gallon of vinegar...........1 bottle of Dawn..........1 gallon water.